"I Can," in the Class Room of his Night Institute.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

"I CAN," AND "I CAN'T."
WHICH WILL YOU BE?

TUTE.

THE INSTI

THE FIRST CLASS CAR.-THE "UP GRADE."

"I CAN."

CHERE are two young fellows,-whom we all know well, for you can meet with them any day,-and some of us have not to go very far to do so,-the name of one of these youths is "I can,"-whom you see in this Picture, in his Night Institute, and the name of the other is "I can't." Where shall we find him? Probably listening

to low songs at the Concert Hall, or watching scenes of Murder and Bloodshed of a "Sensational Drama," in the Gallery of a second-rate Theatre.

What age are these youths? Oh! just your age, young Reader!

What sort of looking lads are they? Well,-in one sense, they are,—as the saying goes,-" like one another to a T,"-for you see there is really only a T between "I can," and "I can't." But that little T makes all the difference in the World! For you can hardly fancy how very different these Boys really are to each other, and what very different Young Men they will become! “I can,”—is as nice a looking Youth as you would wish to see! Bright, -clean, cheerful, lively,-good-natured,—everybody seems to like "I can." His comrades, and young companions like "I can,"—always have a smile for him, when "I can,” His employers like "I can." "We can trust him with anything:-best lad we ever had," they say," we hope to keep him with us when he's out of his time." His Parents, Brothers, and Sisters, all love "I can,"-can't do without him. Why? Because "I can Because "I can" said,-"Instead of being disrespectful, selfish, cold, and unkind to my Parents, I can obey God by obedience, and dutiful respect to my Father and Mother, and I will act good-naturedly to all around me." It required many efforts, and self-denial, at first, a good many struggles with temper, but he said, "I can," and he did it!

enters.

"I can" is always a pattern of cleanliness. He has a good deal of dirty work to do at times. "The more need for a scrub whenever I get the chance," says "I can." So he buys a twopenny nail brush, and sets to work! His teeth by constant brushing, night and morning, are now, at last, for it took time,-so fair and white, that it is a pleasure to look at them; and if you saw Master "I can in his Sunday clothes, you would not know him from a young gentleman. "I can" has had his temptations to injure his health by drinking,-smoking,-bad company, and sin; but "I can" would have nothing to do with them." It's not good enough," he says,-" I want a happy, healthy, and long life!" Oh! everybody smokes!" say they," and drinks too!" "No, not everybody," says "I can,”—else all the cars on the Railways would be 'smokers:' I'm better without it, and I want all my money for the Cricket club, and the Penny Night Classes."-For you must know, "I can" is thought much of in his cricket club. He didn't

get on well at first, but he said, I know "I can" if I try; and by degrees he became a sure Batsman. It was long too, before "I can," as a Bowler,-could send down the Balls true on the wicket, but "I can," kept "pegging away" till he did it. "Wanted a good man to play that ball!"-remarks the Umpire,-putting the leg stump up again;—and away goes the best Bat on the other side, with only half a dozen runs!

All this goes towards making "I can" so healthy and cheerful. "I don't like your "Religious," non-drinking ;non-smoking, non-swearing,-lads, they are all "Molly coddles!" Are they? You should see "I can" in the Gymnasium, his jolly round shoulders, good arms and legs, having a turn with "the Gloves," with a youth half a head taller than himself,-not much of a "Molly coddle" there! Why, "I can," can stand up to any youth his own weight, not a professional,-and would knock your poor pale-faced, thin,-shipwrecky-about-the-knees,-" fast,”drinking, vicious youths, into a "cocked-hat" in five minutes! Then, while "I can't," and other "fast" youths are wasting their hard-earned wages in tobacco, and drink, and low company,-listening in a stifling Concert Hall, to the "Great -?" Cad!" shall we say?—or the "Shoreditch Idol," men and women, making their £20 to £30 a week by singing vulgar,-often vile-songs, to those who are foolish enough to pay to hear such rubbish, all this time, "I can,”-with other decent youths,—is at his evening classes, at Mr. Hogg's "Polytechnic,”—or Sir Edmund Hay Currie's splendid "People's Palace,"-if in London ;-or the "Midland Institute" in Birmingham,—the splendid “Athenæum," Manchester,-or similar places,-now rapidly extending in other Towns.

That is why "I can" is so intelligent, he "pegs away" at his French, and Shorthand, and Music, and Science and Art Classes,-just as he "pegged away" at the Leg Stump Then,-before he leaves the Institute, he has a turn at the Gymnasium,-visits the Chess, and Reading Rooms, and, perhaps, the Swimming Bath; and thus spends his evenings happily, and well, and feels that he is getting on!"

His Employers notice it too,-when their self-interest is concerned you may trust them for that,-and "I can" becomes the Foreman, Head Clerk, or Traveller of the Firm, before many years pass. He will then be drawing a good salary, and will probably marry the pretty daughter of one

of the Partners, whom you see in the picture asking goodnatured "I can" when a lad,-to give up his cricket and join them at Tennis.

Then, in the Institute,-as "birds of a feather flock together,"--the better class of his companions ask "I can to join them in the Sunday School Work,-attending their Bible Meetings,-helping them in the Evening School for poor Boys,-visiting the poor and other good, Christian, work. Then,-best of all,-without which all would be useless,-God's "call" comes to "I can" in early life; God sends "I can" convictions, and though, at first it was difficult, he said "I can, with God's aid,-chose the

narrow Path of Prayer and Piety," and becomes a young Christian,-honoured by God in a life of usefulness and is able to say "I can do all things through Christ strengthening me!"

Well! dear Reader! How do you like the Lad, “I can?" Then why should you not attempt to be "I can yourself? "Ah! it's all very fine talking,”—a boy in very poor circumstances may say. "Your Book goes amongst the Ragged Schools; I have seen it,—but you do not know how miserably I have been brought up,-how wretchedly poor,-how neglected I am! What chance have I in life? How can I attend Institutes,-get a good Situation, or say 'I can' to anything?" Well! but you have the Sunday Schools, open free to the poorest,—we all feel for you, and are glad to do all we can. Cannot you, as you grow older, avoid evil companions, choose the better class,-give up the Drink and bad habits,-and save the little money you do get for self-improvement, as "I can" did? Surely a cake of soap, a twopenny nail brush,-and that cheapest of all luxury, cleanliness,-is in your power? Depend upon it, "where there is a will, there is a way,"-" Try," and you will, one day, find yourself to be "I can."

Well! Now tell us something about "I can't."

"I CAN'T."

The less we tell about "I can't," perhaps, the better; for "I can't" is a very disagreeable Youth to even describe,much less to copy! Always dirty, miserable looking, and untidy. "I can't," is too lazy to wash himself; -he says to everything that is for his good,-"Oh! I can't bother,what's the use?" So it is with everything! Always "I can't" to everything that is good;-always "I can,”—and quick too, to all that is bad; "I hate Books and Reading, I can't work heartily,-it's so hard! I can't associate with good, and worthy young fellows, I don't like Religion. Give me the Gallery of a Theatre,—a dirty pipe, -and a drink,-that's the life for 'I can't!""

"I don't like your Churches, and Chapels, It's such dull work: give me a 'free and easy,' in company where, if one does whip out an oath now and then,-what's the harm? They only laugh! I'm not one of your Methodists, not I !" No! dear Reader! "I can't" is certainly not a "Methodist." There is neither method, nor sense,-nor hope in the life young "I cant" commences, as a youth.